Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jul 2012 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2012 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Brenda MacDonald Note: Brenda MacDonald is a freelance writer living in Cole Harbour. PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL NEEDS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GROW OWN WEED IT'S BEEN YEARS since anyone has passed a joint my way. However, just this past Canada Day, as I wandered down to the Dartmouth Commons to attend the annual Cannabis Day picnic, I found myself declining one offer of a rather soggy and puffed-down-to-the-clip doobie. It was a nostalgic moment, to be sure, not to mention an unexpected one. When I made plans to attend the Cannabis Day picnic, you see, I did so without knowing that the event has, over the years, become the unofficially official one day of the year that interested people in the community can go out - a blind eye, it seems, is turned - to smoke marijuana freely in a designated public place. Given that I had gone down there, first and foremost, to speak with members of the Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society (MUMM), the organizers of the event who, as their press release states, were gathering "in opposition to Health Canada's continual mishandling of the medical cannabis program," I was confused. I was actually offended to see so many other people (seemingly not associated with the society) lying about, passing around fatties, holding up signs about legalizing pot, playing reggae music and listening to what I believe was the soundtrack from the movie Platoon, acting goofy. In short, I was disappointed to see an event in support of what I feel is a very good cause - an effective and easy to access medical marijuana program - being hijacked by people who simply want to see pot legalized. The two issues are vastly different, and, I believe, completely at odds. As long as there are people who consider pot to be a goofy, recreational party favour, after all, there will be roadblocks, frustrating bureaucratic rules and red tape, for those who seek to use marijuana for medical purposes. As long as there are people who profit from pot -who abuse it and perpetuate its stigma as a gateway drug - it will hinder others who seek to benefit from its more healing properties. It's a shame. In all truth, I went down to the Cannabis Day Picnic on Canada Day to simply learn. I wanted to know whether or not medical marijuana could possibly offer me some relief from the chronic headaches that I now deal with on a pretty much daily basis (the result of multiple strokes and radiation treatments). I went down in search of information on how people go about getting a licence to use or grow their own marijuana for medical purposes. And I came away wanting to try it. I came away with dreams of starting up a wee little hemp garden of my own, a garden of relief. No more prescriptions, no more pharmacy, no more pills. As usual, my timing stinks. It seems as though the government is moving in on this one, looking to control the production of medical marijuana. Health Canada is now planning to phase out personal production licences and may soon take away the right for people to grow their own marijuana for medical purposes (go to www.mumm.ca for more information). To end, I'll just say that, personally, I don't give a hoot if weed is ever legalized for the sake of a small recreational high. I would, however, like to see an effective supply program (including home growing options for those who like to save money and actually know what they're smoking or ingesting) put into place for all people who find they benefit from marijuana medically. And I hope that the government doesn't end up making things too complicated in this case. I don't like to think that I'll be breaking the law if I grow a few plants in my own home. But, in future, if I ever find that marijuana does offer me some relief, that may just be what I'll decide to do. Brenda MacDonald is a freelance writer living in Cole Harbour. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D